Amber Laird on Working Remotely

THE INTERVIEW

Talking Remote Work with Amber Laird

In this conversation, we sat down with Amber Laird to talk about the realities of working remotely post 2020. She shared how she stays productive and on schedule, the biggest challenges of blending work and family life, and her advice for anyone looking to break free from the traditional office setup (who isn’t?!).

We asked her about the common misconceptions of remote work, how she balances deadlines with family time, and what it really takes to build a sustainable career from anywhere. Here’s what she had to say. 🚀

What inspired you to start working remotely?

Honestly, I didn’t set out to work remotely — life pushed me into it.

We had just moved to Florida, didn’t know a soul, and two months later the world shut down. I suddenly found myself in a new place with no local network and no option to work in person. So, I turned online.

Ironically, working remotely with flexibility was exactly what I had asked for at a technology company I worked for years earlier — and they told me no. When COVID hit, I was forced to make it happen on my own, and it turned out to be the best thing for my career.

What started as a necessity quickly became an advantage. I discovered I could serve clients anywhere, run operations across multiple entities, and deliver high-level bookkeeping and business management without ever stepping into an office. Remote work didn’t just give me flexibility — it gave me the freedom to work with the kind of clients I had always wanted.

What challenges did you face when transitioning to remote work?

"The hardest part was isolation. We had just moved to Florida, didn’t know anyone, and suddenly the world shut down. Overnight, my home became my office, and I had to rebuild routines, create structure, and learn how to stay connected without hallway conversations or in-person meetings."

How do you stay productive when no one is “watching”?

"I treat my work like a business I own—because I do. Clear priorities, self-imposed deadlines, and accountability to my clients keep me on track. You don’t need someone watching when you’re committed to delivering at a high level.”

What advice would you give to someone who wants to work remotely?

If you want to work remotely, my biggest advice is this: don’t just focus on the job — focus on the lifestyle you’re actually trying to create.

When I started, I was literally doing client cleanups, driving up and down Florida, hopping between Airbnbs, and borrowing Wi-Fi from random cafés. I didn’t have a fancy office — I had Google Drive, QuickBooks Online, and a mission to clean up financial chaos for people who desperately needed help.

Remote work isn’t as simple as “just grab a laptop and go.” You’ve gotta have solid systems. Tools that work wherever you are. A process that keeps you organized even when your life isn’t. For me, that meant streamlining everything. Everything.

But most importantly? I built my work around my life, not the other way around. So if you’re dreaming of remote life, start by asking: what does freedom really look like for you? Then reverse engineer it.

That’s where the magic happens.